When you are a stay-at-home mom, or a mom who works from home, the school year allows you some liberty and time away from the kids.  Even if you have kids in school and little ones at home, you still have at least six or seven hours in a day where you do not have to focus on all of your precious ones.

Once the last school bell rings, they are once again yours…all yours.  Now, suddenly your time is theirs…all theirs.  Quite frankly, this upheaval is enough to drive many moms to distraction.  The noise and the constant activity, all disrupt the tone and calm of the entire house.  Your precise weekly schedule becomes virtually obsolete.  Whether it is your work hours at home or your set day to grocery shop and run to the bank, it all goes awry when all of the children are added to the mix.  Your internal level of peace and serenity is thrown off.  You may be wonderfully happy to not have the added stress over school schedules, homework and intricate science projects but you may naturally feel overwhelmed by the increase in family time.

Instead of pulling out your hair and cringing each time you hear “I’m bored!” until September, refresh and renew yourself during what is essentially YOUR summer too. I’m not suggesting you leave out enough food for the week and hop a plane to Baja to sip cocktails on the beach (even though that could do us all a bit of good).  But, you are human and need a release, an escape.  You need to find something that quiets the noise and gives you that much needed moment of peace much like the feeling you get when that yellow school bus comes to a halt on your street on a beautiful September morning.

Some release ideas are easier than you may expect.  Take advantage of a warm summer night to go out on a date night.  Go to a movie or outdoor summer concert.  Since school is out, you may find it much easier to snag a babysitter even on a week night.  Take advantage of all of those relatives always wanting to pinch your kids’ cheeks. Call up great aunt so-and-so and ask if she would want the little ones for a Sunday afternoon or a sleep over—whether the kids look forward to it or not is not important. Even grandparents may jump at the chance to have the kids for a few days or a week.  If there is a distance to drive, meet halfway to make the exchange.  Or, spring for a train ticket which would be a great experience for older kids.

Splurge on a real spa getaway.  Dad could use it as a time for him to spend one-on-one time with the kids while you get the peace you need.  You could make it a day trip or plan a real overnight getaway with other moms who are on the verge of a meltdown.  Take a night class.  Community centers and adult education courses offer plenty of cooking, scrapbooking, pottery, art and dance classes for beginner adults.  Most are affordable and require a babysitter once a week.  For a quick and simple release, do not overlook the power of a quick walk.